Wolves in U.S. won't lose protections -- for now

A gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park. The protected status of wolves in the U.S. remains uncertain.

A gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park. The protected status of wolves in the U.S. remains uncertain. (MacNeil Lyons / National Park Service)

Julie Cart

The on-again, off-again protected status of wolves in the Lower 48 continues, as it appears that the expected de-listing of gray wolves in the United States has been placed on indefinite hold.

The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Fish and Wildife Service indicated in filings in response to a lawsuit that the removal of gray wolves from the endangered species list was not going to happen soon, but the agency provided no further explanation.

The status of the Mexican wolf, a separate species in Arizona and New Mexico, remains unclear. A draft of the de-listing plan had called for placing that population of animals on protected list.